FG orders nationwide removal of military checkpoints

On his first day in office at the Presidential Villa, President Muhammadu Buhari, has ordered the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshall Alex Badeh and other service chiefs to remove all military roadblocks on highways across the country.

Roadblocks mostly mounted by soldiers have been a feature of the country’s roads especially in Abuja and most parts of the North since the Boko Haram menace started.
The roadblocks have however been a cause of pain and anguish to motorists, especially in Abuja who often complain of the massive traffic jam.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Ismail Aliyu, who briefed State House correspondents after a meeting between the President and the service chiefs, said the President had during the meeting ordered the removal of the roadblocks.
“The President has instructed the Chief of Defence Staff to get the Chief of Army Staff and Inspector- General of Police to remove all the military men along the road across the country,” he said.
Aliyu further explained that the plan to relocate the military command centre to the North-East to step up the battle against Boko Haram was on course.
He said both the President believes that the service chiefs were committed to ending the Boko Haram crisis.

“The second item that was discussed is the movement of the command centre to the North-East. We have briefed him on how far we have gone and he has given us some additional assignment, but very soon the centre will be on.
“I also want to assure Nigerians that with what we have come out with from this meeting, we are very enthusiastic that the issue of Boko Haram will soon be over. He has given us hope that we will see peace and security in the very near future,” Aliyu said.